ANOTHER DAY

A bulk hauler heads out after supplying Hubbard Mills Bakery. After a busy holiday season, business is still up -fresh bread sells year-round!
 

A Amazon semi rolls into town, headed for the Kidco Inc. warehouse. With the Super Bowl occurring in a few short weeks, big screen tv's are hot sellers!

A Schneider National semi rolls out with a loaded container of  shoes from Ten Mile Hike. Those military contracts are paying off!

This time of year, between the College Football Playoffs and the NFL playoffs/Super Bowl, feature a lot of partying and snacking! A trio of large reefers are sitting in Hillsdale Yard awaiting delivery to Johnson Foods.

The end reefer is one of UP's large fleet, and has the raised "anti-graffiti" reporting marks, as well as orange ends, instead of the traditional blue..

As a side note, this car should -and will soon- have white stirrup steps and end cage. Hopefully, Walthers will correct this on future runs.

PASSING TRAINS PT 43; GM408 PT 3

 And now, the end of GM408...

Another lease fleet car is FURX 845366. FURX are the reporting marks of First Union Leasing.

A second string of grey hoppers, this time FURX cars, in the train. These are all former Canadian National NSC-built cars.

There are also cars owned by the Arkansas-Oklahoma RR, as seen here.

More AOK hoppers.

The tail end of GM408 is BNSF hoppers, including this older PS 4740 hopper, with the original "cross-circle" logo.

BNSF 471745 also has the cross-circle logo, but much larger. This was a nod the the Santa Fe's identical logo.

BNSF 481396 has the new "Swoosh" logo. Adopted in 2005, it also accompanied an official change in the railroad's name; from Burlington Northern Santa Fe to simply BNSF.

More BNSF hoppers.

Another BNSF car with the "Swoosh" logo, but this one is an older FMC car.

BNSF 402021 is a smaller ACF 4650 hopper, most of the other cars in the train are 4750 cuft or larger. The similar-looking FURX NSC cars are 5150 cuft, while most of 402021's sisters are Trinity 5161 cuft cars.

BNSF 432380, yet another FMC car -but with the original circle-cross logo- brings up the markers on GM408, as it rolls on to Baltimore. Specifically the Port of Baltimore, as this is a train of export grain bound for Africa.

PASSING TRAINS PT 43; GM408 PT 2

 GM408 has entered Hillsdale for a crew change...

The new crew has climbed aboard, checked the motive power, and performed the break test. Now, time to head out!

549 leads the way east towards Baltimore.

All three engines are seen here exiting the yard.

The first hopper has AP reporting marks, the second one has CHTT marks. Note also, the different shades of grey.

A string of GATX hoppers.

Another AP hopper that now has the FRA-required yellow conspicuity striping applied.

Many of the CEI-marked hoppers lack the AP&W herald.

Some, however, do have the herald.

One of the GATX Leasing units.

Another one of the GATX Leasing cars. Note that the reporting marks are slightly smaller than on the previous car, even though the road number size appears to be the same. Were these cars lettered by a different shop that had smaller stencils/lettering decals?

The end of GM408 next week.

PASSING TRAINS PT 43; GM408 PT1

 A eastbound grain movement is entering town...

GM408, the Chicago-Baltimore grain train rounds the curve.

ET44AC 549 leads the charge, as GM408 enters Hillsdale Yard. A BNSF GEVO and a GECX demonstrator unit trail.

The train will be stopping for a crew change.

The new firemen/brakeman climbs aboard to join the engineer, who's already in the cab.

A profile of 549.

A profile of BNSF 5538, a GE ES44C4. Note the A-1-A trucks, with special equipment to slightly raise the center axle for improved starting traction on the powered axles. Only BNSF and Florida East Coast bought ES44's with this feature.

GECX 2026, one of the GE ET44AC demo/test units. Canadian National and the AP&W both purchased a number of these units in 2017, with CN purchasing a dozen, and the AP&W buying ten of the remaining twelve, along with it's own order for fifty new units. 2026 is one of those units, along with sister 2032 -now the Salute To Service unit.

A number of AP&W hoppers are on the head end. Note the west end of the yard is full of empty crude oil tankers in temporary storage.

A grimy tank car poses in front of a string of CHTT-marked hoppers. At least the tank car lacks graffiti.

A string of CEI- marked hoppers. The Chicago & Eastern Illinois was acquired by the APRR in the late 60's, along with the Chicago Great Western. These cars are leased; hence, no logo (except the last one!) 

It may be January, but it will be grain month! More of GM409 next week.